The Appeal

The appeal of deer comes down to more than the Christmas card prettiness. Stags are commonplace on cards these days partly due to a confusion with reindeer - and it's worth looking at the antlers of various species;  sometimes we may wonder if the artist has actually looked at live animals. But our native deer are beautiful in their own right, so artists and photographers are understandably drawn to them.

One reason why bird watching is so popular is that birds are easier to see. Wild mammals, even where they exist, are elusive and attempts to find them can be disappointing; they often prefer to feed at night or in the half light at either end of day. In some cases this is instinctive to the particular animal and its relation with animal predators; in others it has been learned after thousands of years of hunting and persecution by humans, most mammals' greatest predator. This helps to explain why we see so few even of the smaller mammals, the coordinated attacks on them by gamekeepers, land managers and farmers.

When deer first returned to this land it was a major thrill for those who saw them. We had become used to seeing expanses of supposedly 'natural' land where significant and vital parts of the natural world were absent, as with trees; in fact the landscape had been carefully managed to be that way. Farm animals hardly provided a thrill despite the amusing efforts of some managers to whip up enthusiasm. When wild deer did return, eyes were opened and possibilities were discussed: shouldn't this be normal? Lifetimes of looking at very limited landscapes were suddenly put in perspective. It mattered a lot that this happened outside the scope of management. No forms had been filled in for subsidies before they were introduced; they came of their own free will.

But there are other aspects to the appeal. Despite their size they still remain elusive in an area like Blacka. This morning's view of a small group felt lucky once again due to arriving before sunrise. The three or four most often seen were supplemented by visitors from other parts including a large stag, a source of fascination to the youngest animal. The appeal is also linked to the knowledge that wild animals have a stake in this land which they have occupied over thousands of years way before land managers were ever thought of. They are here, or at least a few of them, each day, during cold nights like those we're getting now as well as spring and summer mornings. And look at their coats. No grooming could produce a cleaner look than the stag's backside!